Volume I Part 8 (1/2)
”Are you nearly finished with your story, Monsieur Gratillet?” said Beauchahtfully
”Directly Just as the door opened through which the convicts have to pass to leave the courtyard, I noticed a the crowd assembled to see them off a small humpbacked man On his crooked shoulders a s beside hi his left are rat promenaded up and down The rat had a wonderfully pointed nose and long tail It ran up and down the whole ti in every direction with its sharp eyes The prisoners, the jailers and spectators laughed at its antics The hunchback drew nearer, and, as it seemed to me, looked at Benedetto The latter, however, did not notice hiaze of the ratcatcher was directed to Benedetto's comrade in chains”
”Did you know this comrade in chains?” asked Beauchamp, hurriedly
”Yes; it was a for of hirace to the cloth,” said Beauchamp
”So he is Benedetto's coht so, too,” continued Gratillet, laughing ”Suddenly the rat sprang from the ar its pointed nose on his sleeve it fawned about him
”'Oh, what a beautiful animal!' exclaimed Anselmo; 'present it to ruffly 'I sell ive them away'
”'But I have no ive it to me and you can have my rat'
”Now I am ready to swear to it,” said Gratillet, soleer before, whereas he had one now He looked at the jailer and said: 'In case it is allowed, I should like to exchangefor the rat'
”The jailer made no objection to this The hunchback claimed that his rat was a wonderful animal, and he would show the tricks it could do
The rat sprang through little paper balloons, nodded and shook its head, just as it was asked, and finally crawled up Anselmo's sleeve The prisoners were enthusiastic in their praises Anselether; finally, the jailer put a stop to the thing by shutting the gate and driving the prisoners back
”'One word more,' exclaimed Anselmo, 'I do not know the na,”' said the hunchback, putting his head once h the door
”I followed the hunchback; when he turned down a narrow street I cried to hiave ht”
”You believe then--” said Chateau-Renaud
”That the letter which the lady delivered in the Rue Contrescarpe ritten by Anselh Benedetto, the letter inclosed the order for the rat, and everything went smoothly The final act in the dra waited for”
”As soon as we are ready,” said Beauchamp, ”Monsieur Gratillet can write it up for our paper Can I count you, Monsieur Gratillet, froreater honor,” replied Gratillet, his face bea with joy
CHAPTER X
PONTOON NO 2
The galley-slaves were shi+pped from Chalons to Lyons No accident ood humor, with the exception of Benedetto Anselmo tried his best to arouse his comrade, but his efforts were fruitless Benedetto re the shi+p at Lyons, Anselood fellow: the file he sent me is sharp”
”The file?” repeated Benedetto, not understanding the allusion; ”he did not give you any instrument!”
”What a stupid fellow you are But keep patience; later on I will tell you more”